Vertiv I10104L Basic Upgradeable 1U Horizontal Rack PDU
The Vertiv I10104L is a 30A, 208V horizontal rack PDU delivering 4.9kW of reliable power distribution across eight locking receptacles in a 1U footprint. Designed as a rack power distribution unit for high-density IT environments, it ships as a basic unit but is field-upgradeable to metered or monitored operation via Vertiv's hot-swap Interchangeable Monitoring Device (IMD) — no rewiring, no downtime, no forklift upgrade when your monitoring requirements change.
Overview
The I10104L sits in the Vertiv PowerIT rPDU line, a product family aimed at data center operators and IT integrators who need a TAA-compliant, domestically sourced PDU without paying for monitoring features they don't currently need. The heavy steel chassis with black powder-coat finish is built for long rack life. Every unit is 100% factory tested before shipment. At 12 lbs shipped weight and 1.72in × 17in × 8.5in, it integrates cleanly into standard 19-inch EIA racks and cabinets with the included adjustable mount brackets — a practical touch for integrators who deal with varying rack rail depths across a mixed install base. TAA compliance and Buy American Act COTS compliance make this unit a viable pick for federal and government contract work where domestic sourcing is a procurement requirement.
Key Features
- 8 Locking Receptacles (4×C13 + 4×C19): The U-Lock IEC receptacle format physically secures the cord to the outlet, eliminating accidental disconnects on high-value servers and storage. C13 outlets serve standard 1U/2U servers; C19 outlets handle higher-draw devices (UPS outputs, high-density blade chassis PDU inputs) up to the receptacle's rated load. Color-coded circuit ID (orange and green) lets you trace circuit assignments at a glance during a live cabinet audit.
- Dual 20A Double-Pole Magnetic Breakers: Two independent 20A circuits mean a single tripped breaker doesn't take down all eight outlets. Magnetic breaker design responds to fault conditions more predictably than thermal types in high-ambient-temperature environments — relevant in hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment where ambient near the PDU can climb significantly above room temp.
- 30A / 208V / 4.9kW Load Capacity: At 4.9kW with a standard L6-30P input, this PDU fits comfortably on a 30A dedicated circuit without running close to the 80% continuous-load threshold. That headroom matters in practice — a PDU sized at or near its rated draw gives you no margin for transient inrush from equipment power-on sequences.
- IMD Hot-Swap Upgrade Path: The upgradeable architecture means you can deploy this unit today as a basic PDU and add an IMD module later to unlock metered or monitored capabilities — outlet-level current monitoring, environmental sensors, remote alerting — without replacing the installed PDU. For multi-phase rollouts or budget-phased deployments, this avoids the cost and labor of a forklift swap.
- NEMA L6-30P Twistlock Input with 10ft Cord: The 10/3 AWG power cable is rated for the full 30A draw. Twistlock connection at the power source prevents accidental disconnect in busy equipment rooms. The rear power entry location keeps the cable path clean in horizontal-mount installations and avoids blocking front access to receptacles.
- TAA Compliant — Made in the USA: Country of origin is USA, with TAA compliance and Buy American Act COTS compliance documented. For federal procurement vehicles (GSA schedule, DoD contracts) where trade agreement act compliance is a hard requirement, this box is checked on the PDU itself, not just the rack.
- UL & c-UL Listed (62368-1), RoHS, FCC Part 15 Class A: UL 62368-1 is the current audio/video, IT, and communications equipment safety standard — more stringent than the legacy UL 60950-1 it replaced. FCC Part 15 Class A conformance means this unit is tested for radiated emissions in a commercial/industrial environment. RoHS compliance covers EU deployment requirements.
- 60°C Maximum Operating Temperature: Rated to 60°C / 140°F maximum ambient — well above what most data centers run even in partial containment scenarios. This leaves margin for installations in telecom closets, industrial control rooms, or edge deployments where cooling is less controlled.
- 5-Year Limited Warranty: Vertiv's standard five-year limited warranty applies to this unit — longer than the 1–3 year coverage common on commodity PDUs. For a device that typically stays installed for the life of a rack, longer warranty coverage reduces the total cost of ownership calculation.
Integration & Compatibility
The I10104L mounts in any standard 19-inch rack or cabinet using the included adjustable brackets. The 1U horizontal configuration is the standard for row-mounted rack PDU applications. Power input is NEMA L6-30P, requiring a matching 30A/208V circuit from a UPS or PDU tap — confirm your upstream UPS or transfer switch has an available L6-30P or appropriate output before ordering. For deployments requiring rack power management with remote monitoring from day one, consider stepping up to a monitored PDU in the Vertiv PowerIT line that ships with the IMD already installed. The locking IEC C19 outlets are compatible with standard C20 plugs on most enterprise server PSUs and UPS output connections; the C13 outlets accept standard C14 plugs. The color-coded circuit grouping (2 outlets per circuit, 4 circuits total across 2 breakers) is straightforward to document in a data center infrastructure management system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can the I10104L be upgraded to a monitored PDU without replacing the unit?
A: Yes. The I10104L is built on Vertiv's Upgradeable rPDU platform. Adding an Interchangeable Monitoring Device (IMD) module transforms it to a metered or monitored PDU via hot-swap — no need to power down or replace the PDU chassis.
Q: What is the warranty on the I10104L?
A: The I10104L carries a 5-year limited warranty from Vertiv.
Q: Is the I10104L TAA compliant?
A: Yes. The I10104L is manufactured in the USA and is documented as TAA Compliant and Buy American Act COTS Compliant, making it eligible for federal procurement vehicles with domestic sourcing requirements.
Q: What outlet types does the I10104L provide?
A: It provides 8 total locking IEC receptacles: 4× U-Lock IEC C13 (for standard server/network equipment) and 4× U-Lock IEC C19 (for higher-draw equipment). All receptacles are individually mounted on the rear of the chassis.
Q: What input plug does the I10104L use, and what circuit is required?
A: The I10104L uses a NEMA L6-30P twistlock plug on a 10ft / 3m, 10/3 AWG power cord. It requires a dedicated 30A, 208V (200–240V) circuit. Plan for an 80% continuous-load ceiling, which puts the practical sustained draw limit at 24A / ~5kW.
Q: What safety certifications does the I10104L carry?
A: The I10104L is UL & c-UL Listed to IEC 62368-1, RoHS Compliant, and FCC Part 15 Class A Conformant.
The I10104L is a well-spec'd horizontal PDU for integrators who want to right-size their monitoring spend now while keeping the door open to full monitoring later. The dual 20A double-pole magnetic breaker design is the detail I'd highlight first — two independent circuits mean you can split critical and non-critical loads across breakers, so a fault on one side doesn't darken the whole rack.
Technical Highlights:
- Dual Independent 20A Circuits: Two separate breakers, each protecting 4 outlets (2 C13 + 2 C19 per breaker), let you segregate primary and redundant PSU feeds on dual-corded equipment — a standard practice for servers with redundant power supplies that eliminates single-breaker-as-single-point-of-failure.
- U-Lock Locking Receptacles: Both C13 and C19 positions use the U-Lock format that physically retains the cord. In vibration-prone environments (raised floor with CRAC units nearby, or mobile edge deployments) this matters far more than it does on paper — a loose C13 under 2–3A continuous draw that intermittently breaks contact will generate call tickets that are nearly impossible to diagnose remotely.
- IMD Upgrade Path: Because the monitoring slot is a hot-swap field upgrade, the I10104L lets you defer that cost until you actually need per-outlet current data or remote alerting — without committing to a full PDU replacement. At current IMD pricing, the total outlay for basic-now, monitored-later is typically lower than buying a monitored unit upfront for every position in a rack.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm upstream circuit capacity before install: the L6-30P input requires a dedicated 30A/208V circuit. Many older facilities wired for 20A circuits will need a circuit upgrade or a transformer tap — verify with the facilities team before scheduling the rack build.
- The 10ft cord covers most in-row UPS-to-PDU runs, but in deep-row deployments where the UPS is more than 8–9 feet from the rack (accounting for routing overhead), measure before ordering — Vertiv offers alternate cord lengths in the product configuration system, but this SKU ships with the 10ft / 3m cord as specified.
This unit is a natural fit for colocation providers building out customer cages, or for federal IT integrators populating racks under a GSA or DoD contract where TAA-compliant sourcing is non-negotiable and budget phasing makes the upgradeable monitoring path a real advantage over fixed-feature monitored PDUs.
